2012 MGH 1206 Green Pu'erh Brick

I tried three of Puerhshop’s MGH bricks, and they were all good. This one and the “Eco Big Tree 1214” especially. The 1214 is definitely the milder and more friendly of the two, ready to sit patiently after ringing your doorbell. This one (the 1206) is much more likely to kick the door down.

The leaves are medium-small for pu’er, fairly uniform and olive green in color. Compression of the brick is medium; higher than a big stone-pressed cake, but nowhere near a large factory tuo-rock. Dry aroma is dried peach/apricot, tobacco, and grass.

The flavor is very penetrating, with a strong menthol coolness. It has the fresh, pure, mineral quality I associate with Lincang, and a flavor like stewed apples and tobacco. It has a powerful, refreshing bitterness and full, sweet mouthfeel. The early steeps have a very slight smokiness, which dissipates later and shows a bit of a floral, grassy side. Very thick and sweet.

Overall, it’s great! When I first got this brick I was newer to sheng I put it aside as being too bitter and brutish, but now I’m thinking about grabbing a brick or two more (and heck, its pretty cheap)

I decided to purchase MGH 1206 Green brick since the 1109 Mangfei and the 1214 Eco Big Tree left a good impression on me. Turns out this one is even better.

I’m using a yixing teapot dedicated to raw pu’er (the result differs with the type of brewing vessel). The wet leaves are have a pleasing flowery, honey-like fragrance. There’s no bitterness or smoke here. It has notes of ripe fruit, honey, camphor, minerals, thyme, and a very long sweet aftertaste that can last for 5 mins or more. Lots of good body with this one and a very pleasing feeling in the throat.

Honestly, I did not expect this to be THIS good, and I can’t believe how inexpensive it is ($9). I think I’m also better gauging the appropriate water-to-leaf ratio. Essentially more leaf (2 teaspoons), 5 sec short steeps with hot (non-boiling) water.

Well, I guess I’m experiencing somewhat of a return to earth after yesterday’s Tea Urchin sample, not because this MGH is offensive or anything—quite the contrary. It’s smooth with a light miso/sweet corn/brussel sprouts flavor and a nice grapefruit aftertaste. It’s just that it’s like going to a Springsteen concert one night and going to see Backstreets, the Springsteen cover band, on the following night.